Dr. Sani Aliyu, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID19 has revealed fresh guidelines for the reopening of schools in the country.
Due to the COVID19 Pandemic, Schools have been shut down for more than four months. The government reopened the schools for students in JSS3 and SSS3 in order to complete the academic cycle. In October, the FG ordered the reopening of Unity Schools in the country and urged the administrators to obey strictly to COVID19 safety guidelines.
Fresh Guidelines have been put together by the Presidential Task Force and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in order to reduce the risk of transmission while academic activities continue in the school.
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‘Schools and educational bodies that plan to reopen must have detailed communication protocols that include parents, school health teams, school authorities, and local (and) state officials.’
‘They must also have a system for providing regular updates for parents, staff and relevant authorities as well as communicate changes to procedures effectively and clearly as well as taking effective measures to understand how COVID-19 can spread and how to mitigate the spread in line with official guidelines.’
‘Specifically, school authorities have the responsibilities to ensure that everyone gaining access to their schools is screened properly, is wearing a mask and sanitising their hands.’
‘Boarding school must have identified areas for screening and putting positive students aside.’
‘There must be access to running water and handwashing facilities.’
‘The health staff, particularly in boarding schools, must be trained and provided with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).’
‘There must be appropriate waste management systems.’
‘Health facilities that are within the schools that serve the schools should have the ability to cater for an outbreak and a response protocol must be in place for these schools for students who test positive. In this regard, it is important to involve their parents and make sure that parents have signed consent forms in advance.’
‘School should also work in synergy with the local government rapid response teams and collaborate with the state ministries of health on planning, implementation and reopening of schools.’
‘We encourage schools to consider creative solutions to abide by these guidelines.’